Family therapy is a form of treatment that addresses the behaviors of all family members and the way these behaviors affect individual family members, the relationships between family members and the family unit as a whole. The sessions help family members understand and support each other by improving communication, solving family problems, understanding and handling special family situations.
Family therapy may include the following:
- talking about each person’s hopes;
- encourage everyone to talk about their experiences and listen to each other;
- clarify each person’s beliefs, values, needs, hopes and assumptions so that everyone understands each other;
- help families stop blaming each other and begin exploring how everyone can work together to make positive changes;
- help people understand the impact of their words and behaviours on other members of the family;
- help families talk about the challenges they’re facing; and
- support families as they work through their own goals.
Sources:
What is Family Therapy? © 2015 Association of Family Therapy and Systemic Practice Challenges & Choices © 2003 Centre for Addiction and Mental Health